Aspergillus terreus is a filamentous fungus that produces clinically relevant secondary metabolites -- statins. Statins are cholesterol-lowering drugs that have been widely used in the past decade for the prevention of heart disease. Of the five statins currently prescribed by physicians, three (pravastatin, simvastatin, and lovastatin) are derived by fermentation by Aspergillus terreus. In addition, this fungus can produce the toxins patulin and citrinin, which may cause toxicoses in humans and other animals and is associated with aspergillosis of the lungs and/or disseminated aspergillosis.